this is what mitt romney was talking about last year with the 47%. if the tax rates increase you all of a sudden have more people paying income taxes and you just have a broader, higher rate to play with. next year when they come back they can get rid of some of the duck -ts and what not and lower the rates and overall have a lot more money in the system to play with, a lot more options. they think they are better shape for tax reform if they come back next year with the rates having gone up. >> reporter: and by not allowing the president to just add nah see um raise the debt level, they have leverage, don't they? >> they believe so. and the president -- it's safe to say the president realizes that, because he's been insistent throughout that he won't deal with another debt level gamesmanship as he calls it from the last time around. he understands that republicans set a precedent last time when they said every one of these debt level increases has to be matched with real action, spending cuts and other ways to reduce the deficit, that is exactly the